Combination carton opener and cutting tool



Dec. 3, 1957 E. A ZEVELY E 2,814,864

COMBINATION CARTON OPENER AND cu'r'rmc TOOL Filed Dec. 18. 1956 2Slams-Sheath:

\lllllllllllllllh r c c C c nnunnunnnn INVEN'ITQRS EDWARD A. ZEVELYRALPH 'M. rurr Dec. 3, 1957 E. A. ZEVELY ET AL 2,814,864

COMBINATION (BARTON OPENER AND CUTTING TOOL Filed Dec. 18, 1956 2 Shaets-Shee1 2 INVENTORS EDWARD A. ZEVELY RALPH M. TUTT TOMATOESCOIVmlNATION CARTON OPENER AND CUTTING TOOL Edward A. Zevely and RalphM. Tutt, Tampa, Fla.

Application December 18, 1956, Serial No. 629,064

3 Claims. (Cl. 30-2) This invention relates to a new and useful cuttingand scraping implement and more particularly to a combination cartonopener and cutting knife which may be quickly converted to a scrapingtool.

It is a common practice to package material and goods for shipment,storage and display in paper, cardboard or fiberboard containers, whichrequire a knife to open. The use of an ordinary knife or tool for thispurpose is frequently impractical as when the material is powdered,granulated or the like and a jagged uneven cut along the top of thecontainer will permit the contents to spill. Often it is desirable toremove, by regular cuts, the front or side walls of a carton orsymmetrical portions thereof, in order to display the cans or bottlespackaged therein.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a cuttingtool small enough to be carried in a pocket with safety, which tool willenable a store or warehouse attendant to make straight cuts to quicklyopen or sever cartons, and which may be readily converted into ascraping tool for removing signs from windows and labels from boxes.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a cutting andscraping tool having a hand grip which safely houses a blade entirelywithin its confines while not in use and which blade is extensible tocutting positions at both ends of the grip and also movable to ascraping position at one side of said grip.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a cutting andscraping tool having an extensible and retractable blade reenforced andthickened at one side, whose thickened portion slidably seats in agroove inside the grip, which groove guides the blade to its extendedcutting positions and prevents turning of the blade while cutting orscraping.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of a cuttingand scraping tool having an extensible, retractable and replaceableblade so constructed as to permit the use of a conventional single edgerazor blade having a reenforced and thickened edge opposite the cuttingedge.

A still further object of the invention lies in the provision of acutting implement of the type described wherein the hand grip isconstructed of two mating parts for housing and concealing the blade,the grip parts being readily separable for removing the blade forreplacement when dull, and for insertion of the blade in an invertedposition so that the cutting edge will extend from a side of the gripfor use as a scraping edge.

Yet a further object of the invention lies in the provision of a cuttingand scraping implement of the character described which is of simple butdurable construction involving only a few parts so that the cost ofmanufacture will be relatively small.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to its organization and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbest be tates PatentO ice understood from the following description of aspecific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughthe several figures and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a cutting and scraping implement accordingto the invention with the blade extended to one cutting position andshowing, in dotted lines, protruding portions of the blade extended inthe other cutting position and in scraping position;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of one end of the implement;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the opposite end of the implement tothat shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the cutting and scraping implement;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 55 of Fig. 4 and looking inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of one portion of the hand grip looking atthe inside face and showing a blade positioned in a cutting position,the blade also being shown in dotted outline in a scraping position;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the second portion of the hand griplooking at the inside face;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a carton showing the implement beingapplied to evenly cut and remove the top portion of the carton;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a carton showing the implement beingapplied to make diagonal cuts in the front face of the carton, and

Fig. 10 is an elevational view of a portion of a windowpane illustratingthe application of the implement to scrape a sign from the pane.

The combination cutting and scraping tool illustrated herein comprises apair of complementary hand grip parts 1 and 2 of generally trapezoidalshape. The inner face of grip part 1 is provided with an elongatedrecess 3 which receives a mating ridge-like projection 4 on grip part 2so as to properly position the grip parts with respect to each otherwhen assembled. The grip parts are provided with aligned slots 5 and 6which are parallel to the parallel edges of the grip parts and passentirely through each respective part. Disposed in the aligned slots 5and 6, and passing completely through the grip, is a screw 7 having aflattened round head 8 fixed thereto at one end and a knurled nut 9 atthe other. The screw 7 and nut 9 serve to clamp and retain the gripparts in assembled relation. The outer faces of grip parts 1 and 2 arecast, machined or otherwise formed with small projections, ridges andgrooves or otherwise roughened as indicated at 10 to facilitate graspingin the hand of an operator and to lessen the possibility of the toolslipping while in use.

Each grip part 1 and 2 is provided at one end with an angled face 11which coincides and falls in the same plane when the parts are joined orclamped together. Faces 11 serve to slide along the surface being cutand regulate the depth of cut dependent upon the distance to which theblade of the tool is extended. Similar faces 12 on each of parts 1 and 2at the opposite end of the grip perform a similar function when thecutting edge is extended from the other end of the tool. Formed on gripportion 1 is a lip 13 protruding beyond face 11. The inner face 14 oflip 13 is adapted to slide along a face of a carton and guide the toolso as to insure a parallel and straight cut.

Formed in the inner face of each grip part 1 and 2 is an elongatedgroove 15 which, in the assembled grip, combines to form a slot whichextends completely from one end 11 to the opposite end 12 of the handgrip. Slot 15 is adapted to partially retain and guide the blade 16. Theblade is provided with a cutting edge 17 at one side and a thickenedportion or reenforcing channel 18 at. the opposite side. Preferably, theblade is constructed like, or. may. be,.a. conventional single. edgerazor. blade, the reinforcing channel 18 of which is slideably seated inthe grip slot 15 for movement longitudinally of the gill);passesthrougha central opening 19in blade 16-; Should it be desiredtoextend the blade-16 further beyond the grip edges 1-1-or12, screw17may be removedfrom slot l9-and reinserted in' one of the two bladeslots' 20: In all instances of use of the tool for cutting purposes,screw 7' being fixed in relation to the grip parts 1 and 2 by tighteningof nut 9; prevents. the blade 16 from being forced longitudinally of;the grip,- the blade 16 is prevented from turning with respect'to" thegrip by coaction of the thickened portion 18 of the blade with thewallsof theslot 15;

Normally, the blade 16 is positioned'entirely within the confines ofthegrip between faces 11' and 12" so that-the instrument may be carriedinthe hands or in clothing with perfect safety.

When it is desiredto cut and remove the top of a carton as illustratedin Fig. 8, the nut 9 is loosenedso that. the assembled grip parts 1 and2 are separateda few thousandths of an inch. With the grip heldinthepalm of one hand, the user then grasps head Sand' nut 9 between thethumb andforefinger, pushing them toward lip 13 until the, blade 16extends beyond face 11' a distance equal to the desired depth of cut.Nut9 is then tightened, clamping all of' the parts firmly. The face 14of guide lip 13 is laid flat against the upper surface 21 of the cartonat one corner-thereof and the instrument drawn along the carton edges,guided by lip 13, to cut a straight line through the carton side walls22in the manner indicated at 23. It will be apparent that vertical cutsmay be made, as well as horizontal ones, by guiding lip 13 against oneof the carton side walls 22.

When it is desired to make irregular cuts in a carton wall, asillustrated by the diagonal cuts 2.4, Fig. 9, the nut 9'is loosenedand'the blade 16 slid in the opposite direction to extend a desireddistance beyond face 12. This movement is accomplished inthe same manneras described in the previous paragraph by moving parts 7 and 9'whichcarry screw 7 and theblade 16. The nut 9' is again tightened to clampthe blade. There being no lip similar to 13 protruding beyond grip face12, theinstrument may be moved and turned to cutv in any desireddirection.

When it is desired to use the tool as a scraper in the mannerillustrated in Fig. 10, the nut 9 is loosened and removed from screw 7permittingwithdrawal of the latter from slot 5, 6. Grip parts 1 and 2;are. then separated and the. blade 16 inverted so that the cutting edge17 extends outwardly from the longitudinal edge of thegrip, as shown indotted outline in Fig. 1. Blade part-18 is seated in slot 15. Screw 7 isthen replaced in slot 5, 6 and the nut 9 tightened to clamp the partsfirmly together. The tool may then be. applied with scraping motions.pen pendicularly to the cutting edge 17 against a window 25 or othersurface to remove a sign or label, such as 26, Fig. 10.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been shownand described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof arepossible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted exceptinsofar as isnecessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A carton opener comprising a hand grip. formed in two relatively flatparts. dividing the grip longitudinally, said grip parts each having anelongated slot extending lengthwise thereof, said slots being, alignedwhen said parts are. assembled to form the grip, a cutting bladeinterposed betweensaid. partsand adapted to-be confined within theirperiphery, said. blade having an aperture therethrongh, a releasableclamping element passing.

Such movement is imparted by screw 7- which through said aligned slotsfor clamping said parts with said. blade. therebetween, said. elementnormally passing through said blade aperture: for sliding said bladelongitudinally of said grip between a storage position in which saidblade is confined within said grip and an operative position wherein atleast a portion of said blade projects at either end of said grip, saidgrip parts having generally parallel side edges with one side longerthan the other and angled. faces at each end and, inclined toward eachother from the longer. side tothe shorter side to coopcrate with saidbladewhen the latter is in an adjustably projected position to limit thedepth of cut of the opener, a guide lip-projecting from. one end. of oneof said grip parts and parallel with the. projecting blade position atthat end, one of said grip parts having an elongate recess extendinglengthwise between the shorter side and said slot, the other of saidgrip parts having an elongate rib mating with said recess to precluderelative turning of said grip parts about said clamping element, saidblade having a single cutting, edge with thickening reinforcement alongthe edge opposite said cutting edge, and said grip parts havinga groovebetween said slot and the longer side and extending through the oppositeends thereof and slidably receiving saidreinforcement, whereby saidblademaybe inverted'with thev cutting edge thereof extending beyondsaidlonger side edge as a scraper.

2'. A carton opener comprising, a hand grip formed in two parts, acutting blade releasably clamped between said'parts and confined withintheir periphery, means for releasing and sliding said blade toprojecting positions at each end of'said hand grip, and a projectingguide lip at one end of one of said grip parts and spaced from andparallel' to the projecting blade position at that end, said grippartshaving body portions with generally parallel side. edges with oneside longer than the other and angled faces at each end and inclinedtoward each other from the longer. side to the shorter side to cooperatewith said blade when the latter is in adjustably projected positions tolimitthe depth of cutof the opener.

3. A cartonzopener comprising a hand grip formed in two relatively fiatparts dividing the grip longitudinally, saidgrirrparts each having anelongated slot extending lengthwise. thereof, said slots being alignedwhen said parts are assembled to form the grip, a cutting bladeinterposed. between said parts and adapted to be confined within.theirperiphery, said, blade having an aperture therethrough, areleasable clamping element passing through said; aligned slots forclamping said parts with said blade therebetween, said element normallypassing through said blade.v aperture for sliding said bladelongitudinally of said grip between a storage position in which saidblade is confined. within said grip and an operative position wherein atleast a portion of said blade projects at either end of saidgrip, saidblade having a single cutting edge with thickening reinforcement alongthe edge opposite Saidcutting; edge, and said grip parts having a groovebetween said slot and one side and extending through the opposite endsthereof and slidably receiving said reinforcement, whereby said blademay be inverted with the cutting edge thereof extending beyond said oneside edge as a-scraper.

References'Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,094,260 Brody Sept. 28, 1937 2,107,736 Huber Feb. 8, 1938 2,237,331Bodkin et a1. Apr. 8, 1941 2,282,697 Bates May 12, 194-2 2,550,346 GreggApr. 24, 1951 2,683,309 Unsinger July 13, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 284,859Switzerland Dec. 1, 1952 386,741. Great Britain Jan. 26, 1933. 880,151France Dec. 18, 19,42

